Printing arrangement for merchandising control systems



2,482,271 ISING R. H. HALVORSEN PRINTING ARRANGEMENT FOR MERCHAND Sept. 20, 1949.

CONTROL SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1947 INVENTOR RALPH H. HALVORSEN BYZ 2 ATfoRNEY Sept. 20, 1949. R. H. HALVORSEN 2,482,271

PRINTING ARRANGEMENT FOR MERCHANDISING CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RALPH H. HALVORSEN 6444? ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1949 PBINKEING ARRANGEMENT FOR ,MERGHAN- .DISING CONTROL SYSTEMS Ralph H. Halworsen, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Teletype Cooperation, Chicago, 111., a corpora.-

itirm of Delaware .Applica'tionsep'telnber 20, 194?,Se1iaLlN0l775Q290 The present invention pertains to a control systerm for recording devices and more particularly to the use of such devices for accounting and other business applications.

In certain business routines it "is customary to prepare shipping instructions on 'out-of stock items in advance. For example, assuming that an order comprising ten items is received and it is found that only .five items are "in stock, it is .then the usual practice to shipthe items in stock .and to prepare individual shipping instructions for each of the out-o'f-stodkitems so that these items may be shipped as soon as each is -received Linstock. These latter items are generally known .as back ordered items.

.It is the principal object of "this invention to provide an arrangementfor expeditiously preparing a plurality of invoice forms thaving fixed 'infor-ma'tion common to all forms and vari'aibleiniormat'ion'individual to each 'form.

Another object of .the invention is to provide an invoice printing system in which the fixed information is printed on the sets of forms simultaneously and the variable "information is printed on each 'form 'sequentiaily.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will appear from the "foliow'ing description when taken conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. .1 and '2 are printer and control portions, respectively, of the operating circuit for a specific embodiment of "the invention.

According to the particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1and2, 'a plurality *of pairs of printers H- |"2, 13-44, Ii-16, I 1 -13, L

and 'l9-'29 are provided on which -the invoice forms are to be printed. These printers are arranged to operate in tandem; that is, printers l l and I2 are controlled by a control relay '2'! '(Fig. 2), printers P3 and M are controlled by control relay 2-2, printers l*5-'i 6 are controlled byacontrol relay 23, and control relays 24 and 25 control printers -F|l'8 and 19-20, respectively. :Printer I I is of the type disclosed in U. 8. Patent :No.

'1,Q65,572, issued July 10, 1934, to -W. -Burcley =e't a1, and printers '12 to 21] i-ndlusive Jare :of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 13014164, issued April 1-8, 1933330 S. 'Morton eta].

"The printer II has been "modified to include a control panel 'containing a lever icontro'l I 21 and a rotary control switch 228. Suitably mounted on printer ll :ar.e:a series "of lamps 3 to aiL'incilusive. FPrinters :H, d3, 125., I1, and 19 contain :a :line feed slever E38 'tached'from the printer l I) designed to closecontacts 39 connected in parallel for activating the control relays "M and '42. Printer -I'l also supports amounting "plate carrying the seven control relays 52! to 25 and Aland-R 2. The line feed function lever 38 (Fig. '1') is comparable to the line feed function lever 23'! shown in Fig. '11 of Patent No. 1,904,164. All of the control -equipment "just mentioned is located in printer 1 I.

The control relays 2'! to '25 are operated from the rotary switch 28; for example, if the switch arm &3 is rotated. to position 3, relays 21, 22,-and 23 will be operated in a manner'whic'hwi'll hereinaiter be described. "The printer indicating lamps .33 "to "3'! will be lit to indicate which of the control relays 21 "to "2'5 are operated; thereby also indicating which "pair of printers l'll2, etc, are connected in the transmitting circuit.

The lever operated "key 21 is provided with an address set of contacts i and an -item-*set of contacts 45, which control the operating paths to the printers, depending on whether'the information being typed is fixed or variable. "The relays 4i and 42 in cooperation'w'ith the contact '{iBoperated by the line feediever 38 control the sequential operation of the control relaysil to 25. Each of the printers H to 20 are provide'd'w'ith motors (not 'shown) which are controlled by motor 'control relays "4'6 individual thereto. Relays :46 are connected "in series over an obvious circuit 'extending from "battery H, through the windings of relays W6 then through --a manually operable switch '43 located in the master control printer unit -I -l to ground.

Each-of the printers H to 211 is provided withfa selector magnet 49 and a line relay '51. Line relay-s 51 are each provided with a line winding bias winding 53 and contacts 5'4 and 55. The printer unit M is further provided with 3, set of keyboard operated transmitting contacts 456, and a set of tape controlled contacts '51. The operating windings '52 of the line relays 5! :are morrnally energized over the circuit extending from positive batter-y, through the windings 522 :and through the stop contacts 58 and '59 :of thetransmitt-ing contact :sets .56 :and 57, respectively, to negative battery :or ground, thereby holding the line relay arr-natures iEtl against contacts 54 to maintain the selector magnets 49 in :the marking or energized condition :over individual circuits therefor extending from ground 62, over armature B l, through contact 54 ithence through the winding of magnet 49 to battery 53. The magnets 49 may also be energized over va circuit ex- (schematically shown tin Rig. 1 .tor clarity, as=de- 55 tending .irom battery '63, through the Windingcf 5 relay-:21 will: have n GfiGCtiQUPOIl'TGIBlY Z 2 because: re1ay-.22:has-.become docked -:up,;.througtr its rconr-d tact/1 134 -'(I1OWJC1OS6d)w;OV6IT essentially the-same; locking -.c ircuit:,that:lockeduup the relay 2 I The releasing of relay-'2 Iiclosedits associated shunt. contactfi 5: thereby-rendering the receiving printer 1 unit I2 and the printer portion of unit I I' inoperative by: shunting, the selector magnetsr49 thereof. However, thestransmitting portionsaof unit I I, exemptified :by, transmitting ontactsr 15.6 :and 5110: are.still;maintaineda-operative.

With-relay. 22 operated, the shuntcontact (55 is ;opened thereby ';making.- 1 printers .I 3 :and .-1 I4 receptive to signaling :cond-itions, Thus, ,the desired information =forlthe second setrof forms may 1 5 nOWfihC'. transmitted. fr0m.:unit Il-andwill rbel printed on printers: I3 .andaM only. -,.When the. linesfeed-iunction again takes place, the line feed contacts 39 will momentarily close.:- .The closure of contacts-'39 will estabiishra'circuittrom negative batteryor ground I it, through momentarily closed-- contact; 39, overconductor I I5, through contact I I 5 (still closed), over conductors. I. I I. and r I 35,-;throughcontact I29. (still closed). of relay #2; overconductor-.125, ,thenthroughresistance v I 2 l androyenconductor I 22x0. battery. I I 2, thereby. 1 shunting .relay, 4 I-causing .-it to release and .provideea holding-path through contact; I I9 (now closed). for? relay '42. However, when theline.

feed-contact139 againopens, negative battery H4.

willrbe-lrem'oved irom thislholdingpath of relay; dZ-causing relay 42 to releasei Sue-When both-.the-lrelays ll and i2-are again released, a circuitisclosed from negative battery 93, through contact 94 (still closed), over .conductors -95 .and 96,; through,.contact 9I (now closed) overconductor .98, I through contact. 99 (nowclosed;over concluctors II I and I35',-thr-ough,. contact I31, overconductor I38, ,through contact I38 (-now closed), over conductor I4 I ,through the :40 upperwinding of relay 23, over conductorshl42 andri it, then through contacts Iflfiand LOT-.(still, closed). and over conductor.I98, through,-contact, li!9c-.(still-. closed) -...to battery I II 1, ,Relay v23; be. comes lockedup through its contact I44 over, con-. 45 ductor -I. I 2 inithe mahnersimilarv to that described in ..connection-With relays. 2i and V221 Likewise, contact .iil5lislopened when relay 23 becomes energized to breakthelockingch'cuit for relay-22 and. the. shuntucontact associated lwithnlrelay. 2260 again closes to ,renderflprinters I 3. and I4 inop.eratiye.

' With relay 23 operated, its shunt contact 65. isw openedqto -thereby renderethe printers I5 and I6 receptive to signaling conditions. Thus, the de- 55 sired information-for the-third'sete of forms may now be transmitted from unit I I and will be printedon-printers I5 and I6 only When theline feed key is again depressed causing the "line feedfunction to takev place, the line feed contacts 39 will again closemomentarilyto complete a circuit iromnegative battery til4'1th'rough contact;39;i over conductor, I I5, lthroughrcontact I I6? :(still closed), over conductors, III land-r! I8, (through contact H9anon;..closed).,.through the winding of relay 4 I, through resistance I2 I, over conductor I22 and through contact I23 to battery III). Relay M is operated, and relay 52 is shunted through contact I45 and conductor I26 and resistance I30. Relay M is maintained operated from battery 93, '10 through contact 94 (still closed), over conductor 95, through contact I3 (now closed) of relay 4|, through the winding of relay M, through the resistance I2l, over conductor I22 and through contact I23 to battery Hi]. When the line feed 75 "42l'arefnow in operated conditionri.

Nowpz'with' re'lays M542; and 1:23;:o'perated;v r circuit is cclosed from negative "'batteryiir93gi through contact -94, ;over conductors 95 andilfi; i; through::contact I2 5:1(now closed) .of" relay (:l II over :conductor' I.26;-; :through contact 121- (now: closed) 1. of relay 42 Eover conductor; I 28, through contact I43 (now :closed) .of relay-2|, zOVEIiCOIl-e ductori t9-l' throughcontact- I 5 I: (now closed) of relay 22, over conductor 552', through contactrl53a (now closed) 'ofrelay 23,1: over conductorelflgfl. through the-upper winding of relay. .24,':oven cone: ductors- I 55'- 'and 1 I 56; ithroughmcontacte 1I 0T ;(sti11:;. closed) of relay 25, then over:conductoreIIlBzaand; thioughcontact 'I 09- (still closed) to battery; II 0. Relay 24 b'eoomes locked up throughiiitsf.contact; I51 o'ver conductor IIZ "in the mannergzsimi'larz to'that described in connection-with" relays-2 I 32,-; and -23i Likewise, =contact ;IUBIIis opened iWhEHf? relay-24 becomes energized :to break. the locking: circuit for relay 23', and the shunt contact-xof relay 2 S-again closes to render printers-a I Wand-i115 inoperative.

VVhen-relay '24 is operated, its shuntric'ontact. 65 rs opened to-thereby ll render the printerslrj I wane-1e receptiveto signaling conditions-. 1 The'r ea fore, the desired; information for the fourthvrsets of forms may-now-be transmitted-from' unit II and wiltbe printed onprintersfl and. I8-onI-y.

When-'theline feed functionagain tak'es place: the fline'feed- "contact 39- Willmomentarily close and "the closure of contacts 39""will estab1-ish a circuit from'negativebat cry I I through. In0-' mentarily closed con-tact- 39; over conductor 1152,; through'contact-I I5 *(still closed), overcondu'ce tors --II'I "and- I35,-through contact I29 (stillclosedl of-- relay-42,' over-- conductor I24 then through-the "resistance I 2 I andover conductor-* I22 "to-battery""l lIlg' thereby shunting the relay: I "causing-"it to release and provide .a holding: path through contact II9 (now closed) for 'relay a 421'" Then,When'thedine' feed. contact-39 again opens; negative'battery I M will be removedfrom: this-'holdingpathof'relay 52 causing relay 42--to releases" When both relays M and 42 are thus de-ener-- gizeda circuit is again closed-toefiect the energization f relay- 25 --extendingfrom --n-egative battery93;"through'contact '94 (still c losedfl over: conductors 95 "a'ndtfijthr'ough'contact 9'I'-"(now closed) of relay l i over "conductor -98, through contact-.99 (new-closed) of relay .2, ewer -conductors; intend-1 3t; through contact I -31; over conductor .I 33, 'thronglrcontact-i (now closed-) of ,reiayl 22, over. conductor I59,-throughcontact I"5 I"(now closed) of relay 23', over conductor I625 through contact I63 (now closed) of relay 24, over conductor I69, through the upper winding of relay 25, then over conductors I55 and I98, and through contact I99 (still closed) to battery III]. Relay 25 becomes locked up through its contact I66 over conductor I I2 as previously described for relay 2|. Likewise, contact I0! is opened when relay 25 becomes energized to break the locking circuit for relay 24, and the shunt contact 65 of relay 24 again closes to render printers l1 and I8 inoperative.

When relay25 is operated, its shunt contact 65 is opened to thereby make the printers l9 and 20 receptive to signaling conditions. Consequently, the desired'information for the fifth set of forms may now be transmitted from unit 'II and Will-be printed on printers l9 and 20 only.

As can be deduced from the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention, all identical information such as sales number, customer and order number, shipping and billing addresses, and shipping instructions are printed simultaneously on from 1 to sew of forms as determined by the setting of rotary switch 28, and any variable information is printed separately and independently on each printer as they are rendered operative sequentially under the control of control relays 2| to 25, and 4| to 42. It is apparent that only one line is printed by each pair of printers and that each line feed operation serves to control the conditioning successively of the pairs of printers.

If more than five sets of forms with identical or fixed information is desired, the printer keyboard perforator key (not shown) referred to in Patent No. 1,965,572 may be operated to place the unit I I in the printer perforator position. In this manner a tape will be perforated simultaneously with the keyboard transmission of the identical information. This perforated tape can then be placed in a tape transmitter exemplified by the set ofrcontacts 5'! for transmission to as many pairs of printers as required, up to five in the embodiment described herein, by placing the printer control key 28 in the proper position, and the lever key 2'! in the address position.

When the address information has been printed on the desired number of printers, the lever key 2! will be placed in the item position and the variable information may be typed as previously described. In the present embodiment, pairs of printers are shown connected in tandem, so that one group of printers comprising printers I I, I3, l5, l1, and I9 may be placed in one department, for example, the Service Stock Department, and the other group of printers comprising printers l2, I4, I6 and-l8 and 12 may be stationed in another department, for example, the Billing Department.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed, it is understood that all modifications thereof are intended which come within the scope and equivalency of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a signal line, a plurality of printers connected thereto, each of said printers provided with a line feed function lever and an electrical contact associated with each of said levers, a rotary switch device, and means for controlling the recording of fixed and variable mesa sages on said printers, said means comprising a first relay control means conditioned for operation by said switch device for determining the number of printers to be'operated simultaneously to record fixed messages, and a second relay control means activated upon each operation of said contact by said line feed function lever for operating said printers sequentially under the control of said first relay means to record variable messages. 1

2, In combination, a signal line, a plurality of printers connected thereto, a master control printer having transmitting facilities also connected thereto, each of said printers also provided with a line feed function lever and an electrical contact associated with each of said levers, means 3 for normally rendering said printers nonrespon- T 3. In a printer control system, a signal line, a

plurality of printers connected thereto, a pair of control relays, a plurality of counting chain relays under control of said control relays, a first switch for determining underthe control of said counting chain relays the number of printers to be rendered operativeand a second switch conditioned to a first operative position to control through said first switch theoperation' of said printers simultaneously according to the setting of said first switch, said second switch conditioned to a second operative position to effectuate through the instrumentality of said counting chain relays the operation of said printers sequentially under control of said pair of control relays.

4.*In a printer control'system, a signal line, a

0nd switch conditioned to a first operative posi tion for selectively controlling through said first switch the operation of said printers simultaneously according to the setting of said first switch said second switch conditioned to a second operative position to effectuate the operation of said printers sequentially upon the actuation of said pair of control relays in response to the closureof said contact under the control of said function instrumentality.

RALPH H. HALVORSEN.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Willis Aug. 8, '1944 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,482,271 September 20, 1949 RALPH H. HALVORSEN It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 41, after the Word and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the c ase in the Patent Oflice. Signed and sealed this 14th day of February, A. D. 1950.

line insert feed;

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

